A Look Back: Jason Eskridge, Mat Kearney, & M.O.C. in Concert

I had the pleasure of experiencing up-and-coming artists perform at Bethel World Outreach Center in Brentwood, Tenn. in the early-to-mid aughts during my time in membership there, especially at the young adult gatherings.  R&B/soul vocalist Jason Eskridge, folk/hip-hop (turned pop/rock) singer/songwriter Mat Kearney, and rapper M.O.C. were among them.

Mat and Mag Nostalgia

I saw pop/rock singer/songwriter Mat Kearney in concert last night at Dimnent Chapel.  Having seen Kearney twice before -- once in 2006 and once in 2015, the night was a bit nostalgic.  In honor of nostalgia, I have posted a photo of the Mat Kearney album review I wrote for HM Magazine above.  The review was my take on his breakout record, Nothing Left to Lose, and was published in the July/August 2006 edition of the now-online-only mag.

Top 10 Songs of 2018

My Favorite Songs of 2018:
~ in alphabetical order, by artist ~

  1. Forgive You - Leon Bridges
  2. Money - Mat Kearney
  3. Naturally Pretty Girls - Elle King
  4. The Majesty of Love - Lenny Kravitz
  5. Purple Snowflakes - John Legend
  6. Happy, Happy Christmas - Ingrid Michaelson
  7. I Like That - Janelle Monae
  8. Rockin' With the Best - P.O.D.
  9. Freedom - Jussie Smollett
10. Speed Queen - Thunderpussy

MAt keARNeY plAYs the RYMAN

Tonight, I will attend Mat Kearney's sold out show at the Ryman Auditorium.  We've both come a long way since the day he sampled my percussion instruments at the church we both once attended.

Top 10 Songs of 2011

My Favorite Tracks of the Year:

~ in alphabetical order by artist ~

1. Rumour Has It - Adele

2. Run the World [Girls] - Beyonce

3. The Living Proof - Mary J. Blige

4. Perth - Bon Iver

5. Barton Hollow - The Civil Wars

6. Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall - Coldplay

7. Ships in the Night - Mat Kearney

8. Rock Star City Life - Lenny Kravitz

9. There's a Bluebird in My Heart - Over the Rhine

10. The Girl From Ipanema - Amy Winehouse

Best of 2011

BEST ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:
~ in alphabetical order, by artist ~
Bon Iver - Bon Iver (at right); Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto; Florence + the Machine - Ceremonials; Mat Kearney - Young Love; Mute Math - Odd Soul

BEST CONCERT: The Civil Wars, The Belcourt Theatre, Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 2

MOST MISSED CONCERT:
Adele, Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tenn., June 20 (rescheduled) and Oct. 10 (cancelled)

MOST MISSED: Amy Winehouse

BEST ALBUM ARTWORK/DESIGN: ~ four-way tie ~
Adele - 21; The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow; Mat Kearney - Young Love; Over the Rhine - The Long Surrender

Hot Pick: Out Today

Mat Kearney : Young Love

Mat, Michael & Me

Tonight, I will see Michael Franti & Spearhead (above) and Mat Kearney live at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium. Kearney's come a long way since that Sunday he tinkered with my percussion toys on our church platform between services.

Best of 2009

FAVORITE 3 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: The Civil Wars - Live at Eddie's Attic; Ingrid Michaelson - Everybody; Derek Webb - Stockholm Syndrome

BEST NEW ARTIST: The Civil Wars

MOST IMPORTANT SONG: Derek Webb - "What Matters More"

BEST CONCERT: Coldplay, Sommet Center, Nashville, Tenn., June 6

BEST BACK-FROM-THE-DEAD CONCERT: Jennifer Knapp, Belcourt Theatre, Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 18

BEST ALBUM ARTWORK/DESIGN: Mat Kearney - City of Black & White

BEST NOVELTY PROJECT: Sufjan Stevens - The BQE

My Two Cents: Mat Kearney - City of Black & White

I was worried it would come to this. Mat Kearney has left his hip-hop hat at home -- at least for his second major release, City of Black & White (his third on Inpop Records). When I first heard Kearney, he was rhyming over acoustic guitar licks (and sometimes as a guest rapper during our church choir's offertory specials). Now no longer a hip-hop head, the songster seems to be a full-blown popster. While there's nothing wrong with writing snappy tunes, I miss the spoken word element Kearney successfully weaved into his repertoire on past records. I also had high hopes when I first saw the title of the disc -- hoping that the album would in some way attempt to examine the pitfalls of cities like Nashville (and others in the Bible Belt). But, alas, Kearney seems to stick to typical airplay fare. I will say this: CoB&W is good driving music. And the album artwork is in the running for best design of the year.

Hot Pick: Out Today

Mat Kearney : City of Black & White

Coming Soon to an Ear Near You

Upcoming releases I am anticipating:

March 3: U2 - No Line on the Horizon
April 7: Phillip LaRue - Let the Road Pave Itself
May 19: Mat Kearney - City of Black and White

Kearney Sighting

A resident of Nashville for nearly six years and a music journalist for 10, I am not a star-struck, googley-eyed, gushy-mouthed, gaga-gooing girl. Still, there are times when I get a kick out of running into an artist around town. It happened again last week while I was at f.y.e. I saw Mat Kearney -- one of my favorite artists, a musician I have covered for HM Magazine, a man I have talked with casually at church and concerts around town -- and we exchanged brief greetings. I don't think he's ever known me by name, but you could tell that he definitely recognized me in the store. I look forward to hearing his new stuff, as he is going back into the studio soon. In hindsight, I wish I would have told him as much that night, if for no other reason than to encourage him for a moment.

Kearney on Last Call

Mat Kearney will make an appearance on Last Call with Carson Daly tonight.

Kearney on Tonight Show

Mat Kearney will perform on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno this evening.

I Am Not a Purist

Blame it on Toby McKeehan (at right), the "musical gumbo" king who forever ruined my tastebuds for "the straight and narrow." I rarely like any pure genre -- I don't like straight pop, I like pop/rock. I don't care for straight alternative, I like alterna-pop. I don't like straight folk, I like folk rock or pop-flavored folk. I don't enjoy straight rap or hardcore, I like rapcore. I don't like straight bluegrass, Americana or blues, I like bluesy, Americana-tinged pop/folk/rock with hints of bluegrass. I was reminded of that this week, while spinning Alison Krauss & Union Station's So Long So Wrong (which I borrowed from my manager's manager, Linda) in preparation for the show I am to see (for free) tomorrow night. I generally get bored with "the straight and narrow" (as it's used in this context). Perhaps that's why some of my favorite artists are Mat Kearney, Over the Rhine, P.O.D., Sufjan Stevens and, of course, tobyMac.

Another 'View' of Mat Kearney

Mat Kearney will make his debut on "The View" tomorrow, Friday the 13th.

Mat, Meet Ellen

Tune in tomorrow, Mar. 21, to see Mat Kearney play The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The taping will include a full-band performance of "Nothing Left to Lose."

Good Morning, Mat!

Mat Kearney will perform on "Good Morning America" tomorrow, Mar. 1.

Late Night TV to Love

Not only is Patty Griffin on "The Late Show with David Letterman" tonight, Mat Kearney (pictured at left) will be featured on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

* * * * * *

I might recommend that you opt for Patty tonight, because Kearney will appear on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" tomorrow night, Feb. 9.